India and France announce global alliance to boost solar in 120 countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated that India with all seriousness would completely fulfill all its responsibilities with regard to climate change as he met U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the climate summit in Paris. The 21 session of the Conference of Parties (COP) and also the 11th session of the Conference of Member Parties (CMP) serving as the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto protocol is being held from November 30 to December 11, 2015.

Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif also had a “casual meeting” on the sidelines of the climate summit. And I would just like to once again reiterate that the responsibility that India has will be fully undertaken and fulfilled by it. And we will be working with all countries in the world to ensure that development and protection of the environment go hand in hand. The alliance will support India in building 100 gigawatts of solar energy by 2022.

Paris: In a sharp message to developed nations, prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday underlined that the “lifestyles of a few” must not crowd out opportunities for developing countries and that the burden of reducing carbon emissions should not be shifted to countries like India. “But we must also lead in combating climate change”. The Prime Minister said, “We hope advanced nations will assume ambitious targets and pursue them as they have the most room for impact”.

Modi asserted that the extent of developed nations’ commitment and the strength of their action must be “consistent” with the carbon space they occupy and these nations must leave enough of what is left of our carbon space to let developing countries grow.

Later, he delivered a speech on making COP21 a success by promising to make India a champion in the fight against climate change. Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury and former UK Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, said: “This initiative is very welcome, indicating that developing countries are seeing the rich potential of renewable energy and grasping that potential for themselves”.

In his launch speech, Mr Modi invoked Indian tradition in which the sun is the source of all forms of energy. By 2030, India will reduce emissions by 35 per cent of 2005 levels, and 40 per cent of its installed capacity will be from non-fossil fuels, he highlighted.

India and France launched an International Solar Alliance on Monday that groups 121 prospective countries to boost development, finance and investment to rapidly scale-up solar power, particularly in poorer nations.

“So, we approach the negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in a spirit of partnership – which must be based on the principles of equity and common, but differentiated responsibilities”, Modi said.

Although the choices were not easy, Modi pointed out that there was awareness and technology, and what they now needed was national will and a genuine global partnership.